10 June 2026Europe has unveiled an ambitious plan to secure its supply of critical raw materials, which are essential for strategic industries. However, several economists have warned about the risks of a rushed approach that could fragment the European market and hinder innovation.
Published in the newspaper L’Echo, this op-ed, co-authored by Stéphane Auray (CREST-Ensai and Rennes School of Business), Federico Di Pace (ENSAI), Aude Pommeret (Université Savoie Mont Blanc and OFCE), and Francesco Ricci (CEE-M), cautions against the creation of fragmented and protected national value chains. According to the authors, such a strategy could limit innovation, increase costs, and discourage investment. The challenge, therefore, is to develop a coordinated industrial policy at the European level, based on targeted public support that facilitates market entry and learning, while avoiding the creation of long-lasting economic rents.
Read the op-ed on the L’Echo website >>> (subscription required).